A 36-YEAR-old man who was found by police on an island in a Dudley lake has been charged with a string of burglaries in the Black Country and Birmingham.

Christopher Straker, of no fixed address, has been charged with a spree of burglaries in Dudley, Oldbury and Birmingham, along with driving dangerously and failing to stop for police.

He was found on an island in the Donkey Pools off the Birmingham New Road in Dudley during the early hours of Monday morning after being pursued by police during a six-minute pursuit.

It is alleged Straker broke into a house in Sovereign Way, Moseley, shortly after midnight and stole a VW Polo before forcing entry to two homes in Walton Road, Oldbury, where a lap-top and alcohol were taken.

The 36-year-old has also been charged with five other burglaries, including one in Russell Street, Dudley on June 13 where a BMW was stolen and two others in Dudley in Park Road on May 25 and Fairfield Road on May 6.

The other two charges relate to a burglary in Clements Road, Yardley on February 19 where watches were taken and December 27 last year in Varden Croft, Balsall Heath

He was charged by detectives last night and will appear at Dudley Magistrates Court today (June 20).